Type-bar bearing for type-writing machines.



AZZM may PATENTED JAN. 3, 1,1905.

E. G. LATTA, TYPE BAR BEARING FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 14, 1904.

. transverse sectional elevation thereof.

UNTTED STATES Patented January 3, 1905. v

PATENT. Orricn.

EMMIT G. LATTA, OF FRIENDSHIP, NEW YORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 779,087, dated January3, 1905.

Application filed May 14, 1904. Serial No. 208,010-

TO a. 1071,0177, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EMMI'r Gr. LATTA, a citi- Zen of the United States,residing at Friendship, in the county of Allegany and State of New York,have invented new and useful Improvements in Type-Bar Bearings forTyperiting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to antifriction-bearings for the type-bars oftype-writing machines, and more particularly to improvements inantifriction-bearings of the character disclosed in my application forpatent, Serial No. 122,352, filed September 6, 1902.

One object of the invention is to provide a light-runningantifriction-bearing of simple inexpensive construction which willenable a close compact arrangement of the type-bars on the supportingsegment or part and will allow of the independent adjustment of thebearings to take up looseness caused by wear.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a simple,efficient, and inexpensive guard to exclude dust and dirt from thebearmg.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmentary rear elevationof a type-bar seg.

ment, showing a part of the type-bars and hangers thereon, which areprovided with bearings embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a Fig.

I 3 is an elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the hearing end of thetype-bars. Fig. t is a fragmentary sectional elevation similar to Fig.2, showing the normal or rest position of the type-bar and dust-guard.Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section, on an enlarged scale, showing two ofthe adjacent hangers and one typebar. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation inline 6 6, Fig. 5. Fig. is a perspective View of the dust-guard detachedfrom the type-bars. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section of a type-bar andtwo adjacent hangers, showing a modified form of bearing. Fig. 9 is afragmentary rear elevation, partly in section, of a type-bar and twoadjacent hangers, showing still another modification. Fig. 10 is a sideelevation, partly in section, of the hanger shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 11 isa fragmentary section showing another form of hanger. Fig. 12 is adetail section of the recess of the ball-bearings.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

The form of the bearings hereinafter described, and shown in thedrawings, is more especially designed for type'-writers of thevisible-writing kind,wherein the type-bars are mounted beneath theplaten on a curved segment and swing upwardly to make the impression atthe front side of the platen; but the bearings may be used in othertypes of machines in which the arrangement and form of the type-bars mayvary.

A represents a bearing support or segment, which in the constructionshown consists of a curved plate or bar having flanges (6 projectingfrom its inner and outer curved edges and provided with slots toornotches, in which bearing hangers B for the type-bars C are seated andheld from lateral displacement or inclination. The hangers in thepreferred form of the invention have circular enlarged bearing ends orheads and securing-shanks I), which are offset somewhat relative to thebearing ends to make room for the wires which are attached to andoperate the type-bars and are provided with recesses b to receive screws12, by which the hangers are secured to the segment. The hangers arepreferably madein the form shown by stamping from sheet metal. They arearranged radially side by side on the segment, preferably with thehangers at opposite sides of the center of the segment, facing in theopposite directions, as indicated at the left in Fig. 1. The backs ofthe two center hangers may be shaped to support each other, or they maybear against a fixedcenter stop cl, secured to the segment. Stationaryabutments (Z are provided at the ends of the segment, between which thehangers are confined. A type-bar is pivoted between each end hanger andthe adjacent end abutment and between each two hangers except the two atthe center of the segment. If desired, all of the hangers can bearranged to face in the same direction. Each type-bar is pivoted to turnon and is supported by a circular row of bearingballs confined inopposing circular grooves or races in one side of the type-bar and inthe proximate side of the bearing end of the hanger for that type-bar,and the parts are held in this relation by a single contact-point at theopposite side of the type-bar, resting against a flat smooth surface atthe exact center or axis of the bearing. This result may be accomplishedby different constructions. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 6bearingballs E are confined in circular grooves or races in theproximate faces of the bearing ends of the type-bar and its hanger, andthe latter is provided on its opposite side, centrally of the circularrow of balls, with a hemispherical contact projection F, formedintegrally with the hanger. The ball grooves or races in the type-barand hanger are of the same form, (see Fig. 12,) each being, preferably,a shallow V-groove with a fiat full bottom to avoid weakening the thinsheet metal more than is necessary for the bottom to clear the balls.Both the inner and outer circular inclined faces of the ball-groovesbear near their outer edges on the balls, and the grooves are soproportioned as to width relative to the size of the balls used that theopposing faces of the type-bar and its hanger nearly contact. Theinclination of the sides of'the ball-grooves is such that they clear theballs except at points near the faces of the hanger and type-bar, andthe nearer these bearing-points are to the edges of the grooves thebetter the bearing works. With this form of the grooves the balls willrevolve around in them without twisting movement, common in bearings ofthe usual form. While the described form of the bearing-grooves ispreferred, grooves made of the same section as the balls will produce afairly desirable bearing.

G, Figs. 1 to 5, is an adjusting-screw which is screwed into a threadedhole located centrally in the bearing end of the type-bar and has a headwhich contacts at its exact center with the contact projection or pointF of the adjoining hanger. The head of the screw is fiat and smooth andexactly parallel with the ball-groove in the other side of the type-bar.The contact-point or center rest is simply to hold the type-bar and itshanger in proper relation with the balls and form a center rest toprevent lateral motion of the type-bar. The balls form the journal orpivot on which the type-bar swings, and the center rest is not a pivotor journal for the type-bar. As the center rest is exactly at the axisabout which the type-bar swings, there is considerably less friction inthe complete bearing than in a bearing in which a cone seated in acorresponding seat is used. There is no sliding movement of one part onthe other except that between the type-bar and the center rest, and asthis is at the exact axis of the bearing the friction is so small as toproduce an exceedingly free moving bearing. The bearing can be quicklyadjusted by turning the adjusting-screw to of the type-bar.

take up looseness caused by wear, so that the expense, noise, andfriction of a guide at the printing-point is avoided. The adjustingscrewis held from movement after adjustment as hereinafter described. Any oneof the hangers may be detached with its type-bar without disturbing itsneighboring hanger; but care must be taken to hold the type-bar in placeon the hanger to prevent the loss of the balls, and the adjoiningtype-bar should be tied to its hanger before the removal of the detachedhanger.

H, Figs. 1, 2, L to 7, represents semicircular dust guards or shieldsone of which is secured to each type-bar and projects laterally to bothsides thereof and overhangs the circular bearing ends of the hangers atopposite sides of the type-bar. The guard is curved on a radius slightlygreater than the bearing end of the hanger, so that it can vibrate withthe type-bar without touching the adjacent hangers, The length andnormal position of the dust-guard is such that its lower or front end isin near proximity to the front edge of the hanger, while its upper endextends far enough rearwardly to overhang the whole bearing, butterminates a sufficient distance above the hanger to permit it to swingwith the type-bar without striking the rear edge of the hanger. The sideedges of adjacent guards nearly touch,so that the guards veryeffectually prevent dust and other foreign substances from falling intothe bearings. The side of each dust-guard which is toward the center ofthe segment curves outwardly somewhat at 7;, Fig. 7, or is of somewhatlarger radius than the other side, so that dirt falling sidewise off ofone guard will be deflected onto the next lower guard and will not fallinto the space between the guards. This formation. is desirable moreparticularly for the guards at the ends of the segment, where theyoccupy a more nearly upright position. The guard is preferably formed ofthin spring metal and is provided with a slot h, Fig. 7, whereby it canbe slipped over the type-bar before the type-head is secured thereon andsprung into retaining-notches h Fig. 3, in the opposite edges of thebar.

The dust-guard employed in the bearing construction already described isprovided with an extension or finger 1, Figs. 2, 4, and 7, which is bentinwardly and bears against the serrated edge of the head or flange ofthe adjusting-screw Gr and acts as a spring-detent to hold the screwagainst its very insignificant tendency to work loose owing to thevibrations In adjusting the bearing a special spanner or wrench isemployed, which is engaged with the serrated head of theadjusting-screw. The spring-detent I will yield to permit the adjustmentof the screw.

Fig. 8 shows a slightly diflerent construction in which theadjusting-screw G is carried by the type-bar and has a hemisphericalprojeetion to rest against a beveled face '70 on the back of the hangerB for the next type-bar. The beveled face k of one hanger is parallelwith the ball-race in the type-bar supported by the next hanger.

In the modified construction of the bearing shown in Figs. 9 and 10 theadjusting-screw G works in a threaded hole in the hanger B and isprovided with a rounded projection or contact-point which bearscentrally against the flat bottom of a circular recess Z in the adjacentface of the next type-bar to form the center rest therefor. The recess Zlocates the center contact-point nearer to the plane of thebearing-balls for the type-bar, which is an advantage, as it tends tobetter hold the bar. The recess also more efiectually excludes dust fromthe center rest. As the adjusting-screw is on the hanger, the dust-guardcannot be emr ployed to hold it, and a separate detent or part M isprovided to hold the screw. This detent consists of a piece of sheetmetal having a spring-finger which engages the serrated head of theadjusting-screw. It is secured on the hanger by the securing-screw M forthe latter, which passes through an elongated slot in the detent. Whenthe bearing-screw is to be adjusted, the securing-screw M for the hangeris loosened and the detent moved down out of engagement with theadjusting-screw and turned out of the way of the wrench used for turningthe adj usting-screw. After adjustment the detent is returned to itsholding position and secured by tightening the screw M. In otherrespects this bearing and its dust-guard are similar to those beforedescribed.

Still another construction is shown in Fig. 11, in which the hangerconsists of two parts B B, connected by a rivet n. The part B is similarto the single piece-hanger shown in Figs. 1 to 6. The part B retains thebearingballs in their grooves when the hanger is detached from thesegment, and it can be turned on the rivet when the hanger is detachedfrom the segment to permit the removal of the typebar. The center restfor the type-bar in this form of the hanger consists of a ball 0, heldin a socket in the part B of the hanger and bearing against the flathead of the ad justing-screw Gr, carried by the type-bar. This hanger isde-v sirable principally because the bearing-balls and type-bar areretained in place on the hanger when the latter is detached from thesegment. The hangers shown in this view, Fig. 11, are arranged on thesegment with the sides of their bearing ends in contact to mutu. allysupport each other.

In all of the bearings described the construction and arrangement issuch that each hanger is laterally supported by the adjoining hangers onopposite sides thereof, either mediately or immediately.

A common and important feature of all of the bearings described is thearrangement of the bearing-balls in opposable grooves in one side of thehanger and the proximate side of the type-bar and the single centercontact point or rest at the opposite side of the typebar and bearingagainst a flat smooth surface at the exact center or axis of the bearingfor retaining the parts in proper position and enabling the adjustmentof the bearing.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination of a type-bar, a bearingpart, bearing-balls located between one side of said type-bar and saidbearing part and confined in opposing grooves in said typebar andbearing part, and a center bearing at the opposite side of the type-barcomprising a flat surface, and a reduced part which bears against saidflat surface at the pivotal axis only of said type-bar,substantially asset forth.

2. The combination of a bearing part having a circular ball-groove, atype-bar having in one side a circular ball-groove and on the other sidea plain face, bearing-balls in said grooves, and a reduced part whichbears against said plain face at the pivotal axis only of said type-bar,substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a type-bar, and a hanger for the same, each havinga circular ball-groove, balls confined in said grooves, the groovesbeing of the same size and each adapted to rest with both its inner andouter faces in contact with the balls, and a center bearing for holdingthe type-bar and hanger in contact with the balls comprising a reducedpart bearing against a flat surface, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a type-bar, and a hanger, each having a circularball-groove, an interposed row of balls, and an adjustable side supportfor holding the-type-bar in place comprising a screw and an opposingpart against which the screw bears at the pivotal axis only of saidtype-bar, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with a series of alternate type-bars, and hangers,and a circular row of balls between each type-bar and its hanger, of aseparate adjusting device acting between each type-bar and the adjacenthanger for the next bar of the series, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of a type-bar, and its hanger, having opposablecircular ball-races of the same size and formed to bear on interposedballs at both the inner and outer sides of the races, balls in saidraces, a plain fiat surface parallel with the plane of the row of balls,and a bearing-point resting against said flat surface at the axialcenter of the bearing,

8. The combination of a series of type-bars, pivotal bearings therefor,and dust-guards carried by said type-bars, the dust-guard on onetype-bar overlapping that on the neighboring type-bar, substantially asset forth.

9. The combination of a type-bar, a pivotal bearing therefor, and adust-guard for said bearing carried by the type-bar and comprising apiece which is self-retained on and is separable from said type-bar,substantially as set forth.

10. The combination ofatype-bar, a pivotal bearing therefor, and acurved dust-guard for said bearing carried by the type-bar and which isapplied to the type-bar by extending its ends and is self-retained inposition on the type-bar by its tendency to resume the curved form,substantially as set forth.

11. The combination with a type-bar, of a slotted sheet-metal dust-guardadapted to pass over the end of the bar and be seated thereon,substantially as set forth.

12. The combination With a type-bar having a notch in its edge, of acurved sheet-metal dust-guard adapted to be sprung into the notch andsupport itself on the type-bar, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination With a series of typebars, of a series oflaterally-projecting dustguards, the projection of the guards on oneside of the type-bars being of greater radius than on the other side ofthe bars, substantially as set forth.

14. The combination with a type-bar, and hanger having a jointedconnection, of an adjustable screw Working in the type-bar, and

a dust-guard on the bar arranged to act as a detent for the screw,substantially as set forth. Witness my hand this 11th day of May,1904.

EMMIT Gr. LATTA.

Witnesses:

H. L. BLOSSOM, S. A. VVALEs.

